Gymnocladus dioicusIndiana Native
Kentucky Coffeetree

Family:

Fabaceae (Bean Family) 47

Genus:

Gymnocladus (Coffeetree Kentucky Coffeetree) 2

Plant Type:

Tree 556

Growth Forms:

Upright 537

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 221

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 792

Flower Notes:

White (Late spring; dioecious; male flowers in 4" clusters; female flowers, fragrant, in 12" long panicles)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Late to leaf out in the spring; blue-green bipinnately-compound leaves in the summer); Yellow (Variable fall color)

Stem Notes:

very stout, gray, brown or green, glabrous

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Dioecious, so the large pods only occur on females; can cause significant litter)

Ultimate Height:

60-75 feet

Ultimate Spread:

40-50 feet

Bloom Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 83

Soil Notes:

Widely adapted to soils, but less tolerant of heavy clays

Range:

Central and eastern United States to Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Maintenance:

Low 103

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are alternate, bipinnately compound, and large to 3' long and 2' wide. Leaflets entire. Prominent, large V-shaped or heart-shaped leaf scars. Salmon colored inner bark. Fruit pods (when present) are 5-10" long by 2" wide, reddish-brown, leathery, and persist all winter. Bark is scaly, ridged, and roughened.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Drought Tolerant 275

Pollution Tolerant 217

Tolerant of Poor Site Conditions 186

Additional Information

Gymnocladus dioicus is a large deciduous tree with strong winter character from the branches and bark. Drops pods (female trees) and twigs, frequently causing litter problem, thus eliminating the straight species as a good street tree. Seeds were once used by US settlers as a coffee substitute, however pulp and seeds are toxic when not properly and completely roasted.

Plant Photo Gallery

Overall Habit

Fall Color

Emerging Foliage

Bark

Foliage

Leaf

Bark

Twig & Buds

Winter Canopy

Mature Fruit in Winter

Fruit Size Variation & Seed

Fruit in Winter

Winter Habit

Emerging Leaves

Buds

Bark

47 Gymnocladus dioicus found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2012_01396*B	SPKL
2	2013_00748*A	MJIS
3	ORIG_1467*A	AR
4	2012_01396*H	SPKL
5	ORIG_0520*A	WOOD
6	ORIG_4917*A	PGMD
7	2013_00257*A	HORTPARK
8	2013_00749*A	MJIS
9	ORIG_0122*A	MRPK
10	ORIG_5000*A	SCPA
11	2018_01032*A	WINPARK
12	2010_12517*A	PVA
13	ORIG_4911*A	PGMD
14	ORIG_0522*A	WOOD
15	2012_01396*E	SPKL
16	2012_01396*C	SPKL
17	2009_13047*A	MJIS
18	ORIG_1809*A	LAMB
19	ORIG_0511*A	WOOD
20	ORIG_4379*A	WILY
21	ORIG_6961*A	LYNN
22	2012_01396*D	SPKL
23	ORIG_0101*A	MRPK
24	2009_11164*A	AGMALL
25	ORIG_1223*A	HAAS
26	2012_01396*A	SPKL
27	2012_01396*F	SPKL
28	2015_00690*A	WDCT
29	ORIG_2713*A	GRIS
30	ORIG_1224*A	HAAS
31	2009_13046*A	MJIS
32	2012_01396*I	SPKL
33	2018_01032*B	WINPARK
34	2012_01396*G	SPKL
35	ORIG_6960*A	LYNN
36	ORIG_1466*A	AR
37	2023_00226*A	MRDS
38	2023_00281*A	PWB
39	2023_00281*B	PWB
40	2023_00281*C	PWB
41	2023_00297*A	DRUG
42	2023_00448*A	STEW
43	2023_00548*A	HLAB
44	2023_00548*B	MJIS
45	2023_00548*C	MJIS
46	2024_00028*A	HORTPARK
47	2024_00213*A	SCHL